Teen confesses to highway sniper attacks in Indiana; 1 person was killed during Sunday's shooting spree

SEYMOUR, Ind. (AP) - A 17-year-old confessed Tuesday to committinga series of highway shootings that killed one man, wounded anotherand damaged at least four vehicles, authorities said.

Zachariah Blanton was arrested earlier in the day and was jailedin Jackson County. He faced preliminary charges of murder, attemptedmurder and criminal recklessness, prosecutor Stephen Pierson said.

Blanton, of Gaston, admitted to the sniper shootings duringquestioning by investigators, but a motive was unclear, State PoliceSuperintendent Paul Whitesell said. It was not immediately knownwhether Blanton had an attorney.

Blanton came to the attention of investigators late Monday afteran acquaintance told a Delaware County deputy that the teen might beinvolved in the shootings, Whitesell said. Detectives then searchedBlanton's home and found a rifle of the same caliber used in theshootings.

"The weapon we obtained was precisely what we were looking for,"Whitesell said.

A message seeking comment was left for Blanton's grandparents, whopolice said where his legal guardians.

Blanton's great-aunt told The Star Press of Muncie that she wasshocked by the allegations against him. "I can't imagine that hewould be involved," Denise Blanton said.

The two sniper victims were hit early Sunday as they rode inpickup trucks on Interstate 65 near Seymour, south of Indianapolis.

About two hours later, bullets struck a moving tractor-trailer anda parked sport-utility vehicle on I-69 in Delaware County, about 100miles to the northeast near Blanton's home. No one was hurt in thoseshootings.

The FBI joined the investigation Monday as investigators searchedfields, overpasses and roads looking for evidence. Detectives fromColumbus, Ohio, who helped solve that city's 2003 and 2004 snipershootings also traveled to Indiana to help.

Gov. Mitch Daniels praised law enforcement officers Tuesday forquickly apprehending a suspect.

"Indiana has been spared the sort of fear, uncertainty anddisruption and that has befallen other jurisdictions elsewhere," hesaid during a news conference in Indianapolis.

Copyright 2003 by Telegraph-Herald, All rights Reserved.

Teen confesses to highway sniper attacks in Indiana; 1 person was killed during Sunday's shooting spree

SEYMOUR, Ind. (AP) - A 17-year-old confessed Tuesday to committinga series of highway shootings that killed one man, wounded anotherand damaged at least four vehicles, authorities said.

Zachariah Blanton was arrested earlier in the day and was jailedin Jackson County. He faced preliminary charges of murder, attemptedmurder and criminal recklessness, prosecutor Stephen Pierson said.

Blanton, of Gaston, admitted to the sniper shootings duringquestioning by investigators, but a motive was unclear, State PoliceSuperintendent Paul Whitesell said. It was not immediately knownwhether Blanton had an attorney.

Blanton came to the attention of investigators late Monday afteran acquaintance told a Delaware County deputy that the teen might beinvolved in the shootings, Whitesell said. Detectives then searchedBlanton's home and found a rifle of the same caliber used in theshootings.

"The weapon we obtained was precisely what we were looking for,"Whitesell said.

A message seeking comment was left for Blanton's grandparents, whopolice said where his legal guardians.

Blanton's great-aunt told The Star Press of Muncie that she wasshocked by the allegations against him. "I can't imagine that hewould be involved," Denise Blanton said.

The two sniper victims were hit early Sunday as they rode inpickup trucks on Interstate 65 near Seymour, south of Indianapolis.

About two hours later, bullets struck a moving tractor-trailer anda parked sport-utility vehicle on I-69 in Delaware County, about 100miles to the northeast near Blanton's home. No one was hurt in thoseshootings.

The FBI joined the investigation Monday as investigators searchedfields, overpasses and roads looking for evidence. Detectives fromColumbus, Ohio, who helped solve that city's 2003 and 2004 snipershootings also traveled to Indiana to help.

Gov. Mitch Daniels praised law enforcement officers Tuesday forquickly apprehending a suspect.

"Indiana has been spared the sort of fear, uncertainty anddisruption and that has befallen other jurisdictions elsewhere," hesaid during a news conference in Indianapolis.

Copyright 2003 by Telegraph-Herald, All rights Reserved.